Refrigerating apparatus



April 28, 1931. o. M. SUMMERS 8 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 19,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l IrIsU/aZ /OH Imulalzbn 2 68- 7 @MMM 69 m I/1su/aZ/bn April 28, 193 o. M. SUMMERS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 19, 1926 Insu/a iforz Patented Apr. 28, 1931 or'ro M.surname, or DAYTON, omo, ASSIGNOB, BY imam: assmmnm'ra' 'rooonrona'rxon, A oonromrron'or DELAWARE a 1 un's PA-rrur omen mmomia'rmo-APPARATUS le-3m cleanly aQize. seriarmi. 123,420. v

The present inventionfrelatesto pressure responsive electric j switches,and more particularly to switches for controlling electricallyoperatedrefrigerating apparatus.

On'e of the objects of the resent inven-' tion is to provide for thequic and positive operation of the movable switch contact into n and outof engagement with the stationary contact, by the usey fa sim lifiedmechanism which may be produce at relatively low cost;

Another object of the inventionis to rovide in a moresimple mannerindepen ent adpistnients ofthe'pressures at which the switchcontacts'are engaged and separated.v

one. manner of carrying out the foregoing objects is to lprovide a Hcontact operating member mafia cooperating actuating member and providefor translatory, relative movement between these members whereby themovable contact is actuated in a certain direction when theniemb ers arein a certain" relative po's1t1on, a nd 1S actuated 1n another directionafter a 1certa1ntransl'atory, relative movementha-s takeniplacej. Anadiustable, mechanical resistance element is rendered 'effective' toresist said translatory movement throughout a certain portion of saidmovement in one direction and then is rendered ineffective throughoutanother portion of said movement in jtl esame direction. secondadjustable mechanicalresistance element is used tooppose translatorymovement in the opposite direction; Thus, independent adjustments. maybe made for the purpose of settingthe switch to close at a certainhighpressure corresponding to ;a certain high temperature in'the' coolingunit or chamber,

and to open at a certainilow pressure corresponding to a certa n lowtemperature.

The present invention contemplates the use of apressure operated devicefor actuat-f ing switch and int-his invention a collapsible pressurerespons ve device such as a metal bellows is utilizedi Due to themanufacture of this ypeof device, the tension ofv all arenot uniform.One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide simple meansfor adjusting'thecollapsible device.

Further objects and advantages of the arrow'6 of Fig. 2, and

the accompan drawings, wherein a pre- I ferred form 0' embodiment of thepresent invention is clearly sho'wn.

In thedrawings: 4 I Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof the improved switch. Iif v Fig. 2 is a partly elevational and'partly sectional View of theswitch, the sectional portion being taken on line. 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 6 are fragmentary views, partly in section each" showin theoperating.

ollowing description, reference being had to i mechanismin dilferentpostions from that 7 shown in the other figures Fig. 4 isa fragmentary viewpartly in section as the bottom portion of the switch, the

view being taken looking inrthedirection of F ig. 5 is a view similar toFig; 2 but show ing operating' mechanism in a dlfiGlQIltiPOSltionfromthatshown in Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is an end'view of the switch. Referring'gto the drawings, thereis shown a frame 20 having downwardy bent supporting legs 21 and aplatform 22Which carries the entire switch mechanism. At one end of theplatform 22 there are a plurality of perforations, each including arelatively large opening 23 and a relatively small opening 24. Theopenings 23 are each adapted to receive one of the legs 25- of a cage26. The

legs 25 are constructed of resilient material and normallytend to bendoutwardly and each is provided with a cut-a-way portion adapted to. formshoulders 27 and 28. Centrally located with respect to the openings 23,

the platform 22 isprovided with an opening 29 which merges into a largeropening'BO. A metal bellowsBl is supported by the platform 22 and isprovidedrwith a nipple 82 which extendsthrough the opening 29. A fluidconductor 33 connects the interior of the bellows with a coupling 34.Bellows 31, fluid conductor pipe 33, and coupling 34, are constructed asa sub-assembly, the opening 30 within platform 22'being of suchdiameterso as to permit the coupling 34 to be inserted thercth'rough. After thecoupling 34 and pipe 33 have been inserted downwardly through theopening 30, the bellows 31 and nipple 32 are shifted to the right to theposition shown in the drawings. The cage 26 is then placed in positionby first bending the legs inwardl and then inserting same within theopenings 23 until the cut-away portions thereof are opposite the opening24; the legs are then permitted to spring outwardl whereby the cut-a-wayportions move into t 1e opening 24. The shoulders 27 and 28 on oppositesides of the platform 22 will prevent the upward or downward movement ofthe cage 26. A plate is mounted on the underside of the platform 22 andis of sufficient diameter to prevent the lateral displacement of thelegs 25. Plate 35 is provided with connecting openings 36 and 37 theopening 36 being adapted to receive the nipple 32 and the opening 37being of sulficient diameter to receive the coupling 34 whereby theplate may be placed in position from the bottom side of the platform 22.A nut 38 is utilized for holding the plate 35, the nipple 32, andlikewise the bottom portion 40 of the bellows 31 in position. The upperpart of the cage 26 has a shoulder 42 for limiting the movement of thebellows thus preventing abnormal expansion of bellows 31.

The cage also carries a plurality of ears 43 which carry a pin 44, uponwhich an operating member or lever 45 is pivotally mounted. Theoperating member 45 is pivotally connected by a pin 46 to the top wall47 of bellows 31 and is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly inresponse to the pressure within the bellows 31.

The opposite end of platform 22 carries an inverted U-shaped bracket, oryoke 50. A roller bracket 51 is ivotally mounted upon a pin 52 carriedby the yoke 50. A spring 53 is wound around the pin 52 and tends toyieldingly move the roller bracket 51 to the right as viewed in thedrawings. Roller bracket 51 carries a roller 55 which is arranged tocooperate With camming surfaces 56 and 57 of a lever 58 which lever ispivotally mounted at 59 upon the operating member Lever 58 comprises twosheet metal strips 60 which a ."e spaced from one another by a spacerrivet 61 and by a member 62 having the camming surfaces 56 and 57. Thesestrips 60 are located on opposite sides of the arm 45. The end of thelever opposite the member 62 carries a link 64, which link is connectedby clips 65 with a contact 66. Gontact 66 is pivotally mounted at 67upon a plate 68 carried by an insulating block 69. The contact 66 isalso provided with a stop member 70 adapted to engage the block 69 tolimit the upward movement of contact 66. A nonarcing contact 71 iscarried by a leaf spring 72 which in turn is secured to the contact 66and spring 72 normally tends to maintain the non-arcing contact 71, inthe position relative to contact 66, as shown 1 Figs. 2 and 6. Theinsulating block 69 also carries a contact 74 adapted to be engaged bycontacts 66 and 71. Wires 75 and 76 are connected re spectively withcontacts 66 and 74.

The top wall 78 of yoke 50 carries a screw threaded bushing 79 held inplace by nut 80. Bushing 79 is arranged to receive a plunger 81 having ashoulder 82 for limiting the downward movement thereof. Bushing 79 screwthreadedly carries a cap 83. and a spring 84 is interposed between thecap 83 and the shoulder 82 and normally tends to move the plungerdownwardly. Plunger 81 lies in the path of the movement of a head 85 ofoperating member 45.

A rod 87 extends through an opening in platform 22 and is pivotallyconnected at 88 with the member Adjusting nuts 89 and 90 co-operate withthe rod 87 and are located on the opposite sides of platform 22. A

spring 91 is interposed between nut 89 and platform 22 and a spring 92is interposed between nut 90 and platform 22. Spring 91 may be used toassist the bellows 31 in the upward movement of lever 45 or the spring92 may be used to resist the movement of bellows 31. Due to manufacture.some bellows may have different tension than others. Therefore. it maybe necessary to assist the bellows, or it may be necessary to resist thebellows. \Vhen it is necessary to aid the bellows, the nuts 90 are movedto release the tension of spring 92. Then by screwing the nuts 89downwardly the tension of spring 91 can be increased. thus assisting thebellows.

However, if the tension of the bellows per se is greater than thatdesired. the nuts 89 are screwed upwardly to render the spring 91ineffective. Then, the nuts 90 are screwed upwardly to increase thetensions of spring 92 so that said spring resists the tension of thebellows. In this manner the tension of the bellows is readily regulated.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for controlling systemin which it is desirable to provide independently high and low pressureadjustments. such as a refrigerating system. One particular use of thisswitch would be to connect the switch so that the bellows 31 would beresponsive to the pressure within the low pressure side of arefrigerating system. the switch being adaptedto interrupt the circuitto a compressor driving niotor when the pressure within the low pressureside attains a certain low value and to complete the circuit to themotor when the pressure within the low pressure side attains a ccrtainhigh value.

The operation of the switch is as follows, considering that the contact66 has just separated from contact 74 the switch mechanism will be in aposition substantially as shown in Fig. 2. As the pressure increaseswithin the bellows 31 the lever 45 will be moved upwardly. The springpressed plunger 81 lying within the path of movement of the head 85 oflever 45 will restrain the upward movement of lever 45. As the member 45moves upwardly the lever 58 will be moved translatedly upwardly. Thestop 70 of the contact 66 being in engagement with block 69, will limitthe upward movement of that end-of the lever 58 which carries the link64, then, on further upward movement of member 45, lever 58 will pivotabout the connecting pin 95, between link 64 and lever 58. This movementof lever 58, will cause the carnming surface 56 to move the rollerbracket 51 toward the left. l-Vhen the apex of member 62, which isformed by the surfaces 56 and 57, engages the roller 55 the levers 58and 45 will be substantially in position shown in Fig. 6 in whichposition contact 66 is still separated from contact 74. Upon furtherupwardly movement of the levers 45 and 58 the camming surface 57 will bemoved into engagement with the roller 52 at which time spring 53 willexert its yielding force to rotate the lever 58 in a clockwisedirection, and, since the lever 58 is free to rotate, the roller actingon camming surface 57 will cause contact 66 to quickly engage contact74. With the construction and arrangement of pivoted contact 66, link64, lever 58 and fulcrum pin 59 relative to one another, as shown, thespring 53 exerts its yielding force to firmly maintain contact 66 inengagement withcontact 74, as shown in Fig. 5.

As the pressure within the bellows 31 recedes, the member 45 will movedownwardly (see Fig. 5) and that end of lever 58, which is connectedwith link 64, is held substantially stationary because contact 74 limitsthe downward movement of contact 66 and likewise link 64. Therefore,with further downward movement of member 45, lever 58 will pivot aboutpin 95. The camming surface 57 will then move downwardly over roller 55and when the apex of member 62 moves beyond the roller, spring 53 willco-operate with surface 56 to rotate lever 58 about its fulcrum pin 59.The tension of spring 53 is such as toquickly rotate lever 58 therebysuddenly separating contacts 66 and 71 from contact 74. Non-arcingcontact 71 will separate from contact 74 after contact 66 thuspreventing the burning of contacts 66 and 74. \Vhen the apex of member62 engages the roller 55, a condition arises in which the spring 53 willnot urge lever 58 in either direction and there may be a tendency forlever 58 to oscillate. This oscillating movement, however, is notimparted to contacts 66 and 71 and said contacts are not separated fromcontact 74 until the apex has moved beyond the roller 55 at which timesurface 56 will engage roller 55 to function as previously stated; Fig.3 shows the relative relations of the elements just after the apex hasmoved downwardly beyond the roller 55. Referring to this Fig. 3 it isapparent how the contacts 66 and 71 are maintained firmly againstcontact 74. A relative large hole 96 is provided in link 64 forreceiving a pin 97, by which the link 64 is connected with clips 65 ofcontact 66, which pin 97 is free to move vertically within said hole 96.A hole 98 is also provided within the link 64 and is disposedtransversely to hole 96 and adapted to receive a spring 99. Spring 99 isdisposed between the top of hole 98 and pin 97 and urges pin 97 andlikewise contact 66 downwardly. By virtue of this construction, thespring 99 maintains contact 66 in engagement with contact 74 althoughthe lever 58 is in such a position with respect to roller 55 that ittends to oscillate.

It is apparent from the description and particularly Figs. 3 and 6 thata switch has been provided in which contacts are engaged and separatedquickly. This is accomplished by providing a floating fulcrum pin 59 forthe lever 58 whereby the lever 58 is translatedly moved relative to theroller 55. With this construction there is provided mechanism in which alever and an actuating roller have different dead center positions whenthe lever is translatedly moved in opposite direction. In this mannerone dead center posi tion is attained while the contacts are separatedand just previous to their engaging movement and a second dead centerposition is attained while the contacts are still in engagement and areabout to be separated. Thus the movable contact is retained in either ofits two positions until the actuating mech" anism therefor has movedbeyond dead center position. In this manner quick action of the contactin either direction is insured.

By utilizing mechanism in which the fulcrum point (pin 59) must be movedto a certain position before the contact actuating lever is moved toactuate the contact and which must be moved to a different position inorder to reverse the movement of said lever, it is possible to providefor independent high and low pressure adjustments. During the latterpart of the downward movement of member 45 (see Figs. 2 and 5), theplunger is not in engagement with the member 45. Therefore, spring 84 isnot effective and the pressure at which the contacts separate can beregulated by either of springs 91 and 92. During the upward movement,however, member 45 engages plunger 81. Thus the pressure at which thecontacts close is regulated by the adjustment of the tension of spring84. In this manner the switch can be adjusted so that the contacts canbe closed at any desired pressure independently as to the pressure atwhich the contacts are open and, vice versa. To adjust the switch thespring 91 or 92 is set so that the contacts are opened at the desiredpressure within the bellows 31. Then spring 84 is set so that thecontacts are closed at the desired pressure within the bellows 31.

t i hile the of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form. it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming 3 within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

hat is claimed is as follows:

1. A switch comprising, in combination, a contact actuating levermember, an actuating member for the lever member, one of said membershaving a plurality of cammin surfaces, and the other of said memberseing adapted to cooperate with one of the cammingsurfaces and therebytending to yieldingly maintain the lever member in a certain positionthroughout a certain bodily movement of one of said members with respectto the other and being adapted to cooperate with another of saidca-mming surfaces for quickly rocking said lever member when the membersare relatively bodily moved to a certain position, and means for bodilymoving the lever member relative to the actuating member. v

2. A switch comprising, in combination, a

. contact actuating lever member having a plurality of camming surfaces,an actuating member adapted to cooperate with one of the cammingsurfaces and thereby tending to yieldingly maintain the lever member ina certain position throughout a certain bodily movement of one of saidmembers with respect to the other and being adapted to co-- operate withanother of said camming surfaces for quickly rocking said lever memherwhen the members are relatively bodily moved to a certain position, andmeans for bodily moving the lever member relative to the actuatingmember.

3. A switch comprising, in combination, a contact actuating levermember, mechanism including an actuating member adapted to yielding'lymaintain said lever member in a certain position through a certainbodily movement of one of said members with respect to the other andthereafter quickly move the lever member to another position, means forbodily moving one of said members relative to the other, and means foryieldingly resisting the movement of the first means throughout acertain portion of the movement thereof and being ineffective throughoutanother portion of the movement of said first means.

4. In a switch, the combination with a supporting frame, of a pressureresponsive device having a movable wall and an, operating memberassociated therewith, a cage for'said device including legs extendingthrough openings Within the frame and each having shoulders engagingopposite sides of said frame, and common means for preventing lateralmovement of said legs.

5. In a switch, the combination with a supporting frame, of a pressureresponsive device having a movable walland an operating frame, and aplate etween said legs for preventing lateral movement of the latter.

6. In a switch, the combination with a supporting frame, of a pressureresponsive device having a movable wall and an operating memberassociated therewith, a cage for said device including le s extendingthrough openings within the rame and each having shoulders engagingopposite sides of said frame, a plate between saidlegs for preventinglateral movement of the latter, and common means for maintaining saidplate and said device in position.

7. In a switch, in combination with a sup porting frame; of an operatingmember; a unit including a pressure responsive device located on oneside of the frame and having a movable wall associated with said member,a couplin located on the opposite side of frame, an a conductorconnecting said coupling and device; a cage for said device includinglegs extending through openings within the frame and each havingshoulders engaging opposite sides of the frame; a plate interposedbetween said le s for preventing the lateral movement of said legs: andmeans for maintaining said plate and said device in'position, said plateand frame having openings permitting the passage of the couplingtherethrough whereby said device, conductor, and coupling may be removedas a unit.

8. In a switch, the combination with'an operating member; a pressureresponsive device having a movable wall associated with said member; asupport; and means for ad- 'usting said device includin a movable memberextending through said support, adjust able members on opposite sides ofsaid support each co-operating with the movable member, and a pluralityof yielding means connected between the adjustable members and thesupport.

9. In a switch, the combination with an operating member; a pressureresponsive device having a movable wall associated with said member; asu port; and means for adjustifig said device including a movable memberextending through said support, adjustable members on opposite sides ofsaid support each co-operating with the movable member, and springs onopposite sides of the support, each spring being interposed between thesupport and an adjustable member.

10. A switch comprising. in combination, a movable contact, a lever foractuating said contact, means for snapping said lever to opencontactposition, said means having a dead center with the lever, a lost motionconnection between said lever and contact including a loosely fittingconnecting pin, and a spring engaging said pin for yieldinglymaintaining said contact in closed position while said lever and meansare in dead center position.

11. A switch comprising, in combination, a contact actuating levermember, an actuating member for the lever member, one of said membershaving a plurality of camming surfaces, and the other of said membersbeing adapted to cooperate with one of the camming surfaces and tending.to yieldingly maintain the lever member in a certain position throughouta certain bodily movement of one of said members with respect to theother and being adapted to cooperate with another of said cammingsurfaces for quickly rocking said lever member when the members arerelatively bodily moved to a certain position, means for bodily movingone of said members relative to the other, and a resistance devicearranged to resist movement of said means when the said other membercooperates with one of the camming surfaces and being inefiectivethroughout the latter portion of the movement between the saidothermember and the other of the camming surfaces.

12. A switch com rising, in combination, a contact actuating ever memberhaving a plurality of camming surfaces, an actuating member for saidlever member adapted to cooperate with one of the camming surfaces andthereby tendin to yieldingly maintain the lever member in a certainposition throughout a certain bodily movement of one of said memberswith respect to the other and being adapted to cooperate with another ofsaid camming surfaces for quickly rocking said lever member when themembers are relatively bodily moved to a certain position, means forbodily moving one of said members relative to the other, and aresistance device arranged to resist movement of said means when thesaid other member cooperates with one of the camming surfaces and beinginetiective throughout the latter portion of the movement between thesaid other member and the other of said camming surfaces.

13. A switch comprising, in combination, a movable contact a lever foractuating said contact, means for snapping said lever to open contact.position. said means having a dead center with the lever, a lost motionconnection between said lever and contact including a hollow link. aspring within the hollow link, a loosely fitting connecting pin, saidspring engaging the pin for yieldingly maintaining said contact inclosed position while said lever and means are in dead center position.

14. A switch comprising, in combination. a movable contact. a lever foractuating said contact, means for snapping said lever to open contactposition. said means having a dead center with the lever. a lost motioncom nection between said lever and contact including a hollow part, acoil spring within said hollow part, a connecting pin loosely connectedwith said part and extending transversely to said coil spring, saidspring engaging the pin for yieldmgly maintaining said contact in closedposition while said lever and means are in dead center position.

15. A switch comprising, in combination, a plurality of contacts, acontact actuating member connected with one of said contacts and movablein opposite directions, means for resisting movement of said actuatingmember including a spring and a member engaged by the spring and lyingin the path of movement of the actuating member, an externally threadedmember and an internally threaded member coopc 'ating to provide acasing for said spring, one of said threaded members engaging saidspring and being adapted to vary the tension thereof.

16. A switch comprising, in combination, a plurality of contacts, acontact actuating member connected with one of said contacts and movablein opposite directions, means for resisting movement of said actuatingmember including a spring and a plunger having a shoulder engaged by thespring and arranged in the path of movement of the actuating member, anexternally threaded member and an internally threaded member cooperatingto provide a casing for said spring and adapted to receive the plunger,one of said threaded members engaging said spring and being adapted tovary the tension thereof.

17 A switch comprising, in combination, a plurality of contacts, acontact actuating member connected to one of said contacts and movablein opposite directions, means for resisting movements of said actuatingmember including a spring and a member engaged by the spring and lyingin the path of movement of the actuating member, said spring engagedmember having a shoulder for limiting the movement thereof, anexternally threaded member and an internally threaded member cooperatingto provide a casing for said spring, one. of said threaded membersengaging said spring and being adapted to vary the tension thereof.

18. A switch comprising. in combination, relatively stationary andmovable contacts, a quick break device for said contacts including alever member associated with the movable contact, an actuating memberassociat ed with said lever member, means for bodily moving one of saidmembers relative to the other, said actuating member having a deadcenter position with the levermember and tending to hold said levermember in contactmaking position until said means has moved said membersto the dead center position and tending to quickly move said levermember to actuate the movable contact after said means has moved themembers beyond the dead center position, and spring means between thelever member and movable contact for maintaining said movable contact inengagement with the other contact when said members are in dead centerposition.

19. A switch comprising, in combination, relatively stationary andmovable contacts, a quick break device for said contacts including alever member associated with the movable contact, an actuating memberassociated with said lever member, means for bodily moving one of saidmembers relative to the other, said actuating member having a deadcenter position with the lever member and tending to hold said levermember in contact-making position until said means has moved saidmembers to the dead center position and tending to quickly move saidlever member to actuate the movable contact after said means has movedthe members beyond the dead center position, and means for maintainingsaid contacts in engagement while said members are in dead centerposition, said last means including a spring constantly urging thecontacts toward one another.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

OTTO M. SUMMERS.

